Sewing machine



Oct. 20, 1925.

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Oct. 20, 1925.

J. KIEWICZ SEWING' MACHINE Filed Dec. 1'7. 1923 Yigg UNIHIIHHE I5 SheetLSheat 2 Figa immuun@ lim/emo?.

John Kiewicg Ahys,

oct. zo, 1925. 1,558,182

J. KiEwlcz SEWING MACHINE:

Filed Dee. 17. 192s 5 sheets-sheet s Fig.

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Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KIEWICZ, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE REECE BUTTON HOLE MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

SEWING MACHINE.

Application filed December 1^?, 1923.` Serial No. 681,060.

To all who/m, 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN Kinwrcz, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Hassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to sewing machines'of that known type which include two co-operating loopers and loop-spreading means situated beneath the work and acting alternately to take and spread loops of needle thread that are presented by a needle which penetrates the work from above. Some sewing machines of this type, especially those adapted to form stitches along the edges of a buttonhole or around an eyelet, are provided with a turret on which the loopers are mounted, the turret being constructed to turn in order to carry the stitching around the ends of the buttonhole or around the eyelet.

Sewing machines of this type which employ the two loopers are usually so constructed that it takes two downward thrusts of the needle to form each stitch. Merely as illustrating such sewing machines I will refer to United States Patents No. 862,238, August- (th, 1907, and No. glll, February 2nd, 1909, but I wish to state that these sewing machines are referred to merely for illustrative purposes and that the invention is adaptable for use with other sewing machines of the above type than those illustrated in the above mentioned patents.

In sewing machines havingl the two loopers beneath the work it is usual to support the loopers so thatl they can have au oscillating movement and in order that they may perform their function properly it is desirable that this oscillating movement should lhe a` more or less irregular one, which is in proper timed relation vwith the movements of the needle. In all sewing machines of this type with which I am familiar this irregular oscillating movement of the loopers is derived from a rotary cam which is mounted cit-her on the drive shaft from which the needle is operated or on some other shaft connected thereto. IVhere such cam is located on the drive shaft the connections between the cam and the loopers have usually included a relatively-long lever pivoted to the frame beneath the work, a. link connection between one end of the lever and the cam and a spindle connected to the other end of the lever and extending axially of the turret and connected to the loopers. Since the movement which it is desirable to give the loopers is a more orless irregular one it has been necessary in the prior constructions to use a cam having relatively-sharp curves and where the cam is located on the drive shaft said cam in its rotation has to impart movement to all the connections between the cam and the loopers, all of which connections, are, therefore,. subject to the irregular movement derived from the cam. Owing to the weight and inertia of the parts comprising these relatively-long connections the speed at which they can be successfully actuated by a cam having relatively-sharp curves places a limit on the speed at which the machine can be practically operated.

It is one of the objects of my present invention to improve sewing machines of this type by providing a construct-ion in which the parts that are moved by the cams in giving the loopers their required movement are reduced to a minimum and this is accomplished by locating the cam means on the turret close to the loopers and providing connections for operating the cam means from the drive shaft which produces a harmonie movement, such for inst-ance, as would be produced by an eccentric or a crank shaft.

With this construction the parts which are cam actuated are of relatively-light weight and can be moved rapidly without interfering with their operation while the relatively-long connections between the looper and the drive shaft which have more weight are given a regular harmonic movement from an eccentric. This makes it possible to increase the speed at which the machine will operate without prohibitive vibration or undue wear.

In the structures shown in the prior patents the two loopers are both carried by an oscillating` block which is mounted on the turret, and they have a fixed relation to each other.

In my presentinvention I pivot each looper separately and employ a separate cam Cil (iti

member for each looper. In this way each cam has parts of minimum weight to move and each cam can be designed to give its looper the proper movement.

In order to give an understanding of the invention l have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a sewing machine embodying my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and Ll are views of the turretl with the leopers mounted thereon, Figs. 2 and 2l showing' the opposit-e sides of the turret and Fig. l showing the turret in a position at right angles to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the turret;

Fig. is a view of the loopers and the ams for actuating them showing the loopers in the opposite position from that illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. T is a view showing` a for adjusting' the cam d0;

Fig. S is a section on the line 8 8, Fig. 7.

1n the drawings 1 indicates the bed frame of the sewing machine which supports the head 2 in which reciprocates a needle bar il carrying a needle 4. The needle bar is actuated by any suitable means. (not shown) from a dri'i'ing shaft which is journalled in the head.

The machine herein illustrated is intended for stitching buttonholes and the loopers which co-operate with the needle are mounted on a turret 6 which is situated beneath the bed frame 1. Bot-h the turret and the needle bar are mounted for turning` movement about a vertical axis to provide for stitching around the ends of the buttonhole.l this turning movement being derived from a vertically-extending rock shaft 7 which carries sector `gears 8, 9 meshing with gears construction 10 and 11 on the needle bar and turret respectively. The turret 6 carries the usual throat plate 1Q having the sewing opening 13 through which the needle operates.

The two loopers which co-operate with the needle are indicated at 14 and 15v respectively and each looper has associated with it a spreader for spreading the loop of needle thread, said spreaders being indicated at 16 and 17.

In the device shown in said patents one of the loopers is a thread-carrying looper which carries an under thread that is concatinated with the needle thread, the other looper being a non-thread carrying looper, and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention 1-1 is the thread-carrying looper and is the non-thread-carrying looper.

The parts thus far described are or may be all as illustrated in said patents and in the operation of the sewing' machine, at each penetrating thrust of the needle 1 one of the loopers will take the loop of needle thread which is thrown out as the needh` starts upwardly and hold said loop while the needle is retracted. the corresponding spreader co-.operating with the looper to spread the loop and to carry the spread loop into such position that at the next penetrating thrust of the needle the latter will be inserted through the spread loop of needle thread, and the other looper then enters and takes a loop of needle thread as the needle is retracted, said looper and its associated spreader operating to spread said loop and carry it into position to receive the needle at the next penetrating thrust. The loopers thus act alternately7 on successive needle loops.

ln said patents the two loopers are carried by a single oscillating block which is mounted on the turret so that they have a fixed relation to each other.

1n the present embodiment of the invention the two loopers are mounted separately. yl`he looper 1% and its spreader 1G are carried on an oscillating arm 18 which is pivoted to the turret at 19 while the looper 15 and its spreader 1T are carried on another oscillating arm 2t) which is pivoted to the turret at 21. The two loopers are tixedly secured to the arms 15 and 20 while the loop spreaders are pivotally mounted on the arms, each loop spreader having a shank which is journalled in bearings Q3 formed in the arms 1S and 2O and being acted on by a. suitable spring 24; which tends to hold it in line with the looper as shown at the left in Fig. 5.

The spreaders are given their loop-spreading movements by a spreader actuator 25 which has substantially the same construction as that illustrated in the above-inen- 'tioned patents, said spreader actuator being pivotally mounted on the turret at :2(3 and having two arms 2T provided with cam faces 28 that act on the ends of the spreaders at the proper times in the cycle of operations all as illustrated in said patents.

rlhe loopers are actuated from the driving shaft 5 by the following means. Mounted on 'said shaft is an eccentric Q8, the eccentric strap 29 of which has an arm 30 connected to a` lever 31 situated beneath the bed frame and pivotally mounted at 32. rihis lever is connected to a sleeve that is situated and movable axially of the turret (S. This sleeve has fast thereon a member Si which has a vertical reciprocating movement in the turret by reason of the connection above described.

Each of the arms 18 and 2O which carry the loopers derive their reciprocating movement from the member 34 through suitable cam connections. The member 1S is operat-ed through a lever which is pivoted to the turret at 36' and the upper end El? of which engages a shoulder 33 'termed on the arm 18. This arm 18 is acted on by a spring 3S) which holds the shoulder 3S in conta-ct with the end 3T ot' the lever 35. The lever 35 is termed with a cam portion 4() which co-operates with a roll or pin 41 carried by the block or member 34. This cam 40 is so designed that the regular up and down movementot the block 34 due to the operation of the eccentric 28 will give the arm 1S and looper' 14 the proper vibrating movement to cause 'the looper to 'function correctly.

The other looper-carrying arm 2O is provided with a tail portion 42 which has a cam surface thereon. Said cam surface co-opcrates with a roll or projection 44 carried by an arm 45 that is 'secured to the block 34. This looper arm is also acted on by a spring 4o which tends to move it outwardly and which holds the cam surface 43 in contact with the roll 44. As the member 34 rises and lalls, therefore, the action of the roll 44 on the cam surface 43 together with the. action of the spring 46 will give an os` cillating movement to the looper arm 2Q and this cam 43 is also designed so that the looper 15 will be given its requisite more or less irregularl oscillating movement. With this construction it will be observed that 'the long connections 30, 31 and are all actuated by an eccentric and will, therefore, have a regular harmonic movement, which is conducive to high speed operation.

The cam-actuated movement which is more or less irregular but which is necessary to givethe loopers their proper movement is located between the member 34 and the loopers so that the parts which the cams have to actuate are simply the looper arms. These parts are relativelyI light in weight and can be readily given any desirable irregular movement from the cams without detracting from the speed and without producing undue vibration.

In the drawings the looper l5 and spreader 17 are in the position they assume after they have entered a loop of needle thread and have 'spread the same and have carried the loop into position to be entered by the needle at its next downward thrust. After the needle has made such penetrating thrust and begins to rise the sleeve 33 and looper actuator 34 are raised. As the roll 44 rises it rides over the cam face 43 which is shaped so as to allow an immediate withdrawal of the looper 17 under the influence oi' the spring 46. During the first part oit the upward movement of the looper actuator the roll 41 rides on the vertical face ot the cam 40 thus giving the looper 14 relatively little movement but as the upward mov-rment oit the looper actuator progresses 'the roll 41 will engage the curved tace ot the arm 40 and will throw the looper 14 forwardly with a quick movement to cause it to enter the loop of needle thread. After the looper has thus engaged th-e loop of needle thread the spreader actuator is turned to actuate the spreader 16 and cause `the latter to spread the loop ready tor the reception ot the needle at the next succeeding pene trating thrust.

Vhen the looper actuator 34 has been moved to the upper limitof its movement the position oi the loopers is suoli as shown in Fig. 6, thc needle loop now being held by the looper 14 and the spreader 16. The next downward movement ot the looper actuator 34 returns the parts to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The advantage o1 having a separate cam for each looper is that each cam may be shaped to give the corresponding looper the correct movement and as each looper is actuated by a separate cam each looper may have the movement which is best suited to its correct operation.

It will be noted that the looper 14 is ac tuated by a relatively-long lever This construction has been employed because it is desirable that the looper 14 should have a greater amplitude of movement than the looper 15 and should also have lirst a slow movement and then a quick rapid movement as it enters the. needle loop and carries the latter into position to receive the needle. By employing the long lever which is pivoted at its lower end and engages the looper at its upper end and which has the cam intermediate of its ends, it is possible to get the desired movement with a cam having easy curves. In Figs. 2 and 6 the cam is shown as formed directly on the'lever 35 and with this construction any adjust ment for the purpose of varyingthe timing of the looper may be secured by adjusting the member 34 vertically on the sleeve In F ig. 7 I have illustrated another embodiment or the invention wherein the cam 40 is formed ona cam member 'TO which is adjustably secured to the lever 35, said cam member being pivoted to said lever at 71 and being adjustable relative thereto by the adjust-ing screw72. The screw 72 is shown as swivelled in an ear 73 extendingfrom the. member 'TO and as being` screw-threaded in a lug 74 rigid with the lever 35. Wit-h this arrangement the position o the cam surface relative to the lever 35 maybe varied thereby varying the timing ot' the looper 14.

For varying the timing ot the looper 15 I have adjustably secured the arm to the looper actuator 34. said arm having slots therein in which are received clamping screws 6l carried by said member 34. By adjust-ing the arm 45 the position of the roll 44 relative to the cam 43 may be varied thereby varying the timing ot' the looper 15.

The movement which the spreader actuator 25 has is a more or less regular one so 'hat the desirable high speed thereoiI can be secured by operating it from a cam on the shaft 5 although it is within my invention to operate this spreader actuator by any suitable means which will move it in proper timed relation with the loopers. In the construction herein shown the spreader actuator 25 is connected by a link et? to a collar 4S fast on a spindle or rod 49 that extends axially through the sleeve This spindle is connected to one end of a lever which is pivoted at 5l. the other end of said lever being connected to a link 53 that is pivotally connected to :team-actuated arm 5l. Said arm is pivot-ally connected to the frame at 55 and is provided with a roll 56 operating in a cam groove 5T formed in a cam member 5S that is mounted on the shaft 5. This cam operates to oscillate the spreader actuatoi in timed relation with the movements of the loopers.

vWhile I have illustrated my invention herein as applied to the type of sewing machine shown in the above-mentioned patents yet I desire to state that the invention is applicable to any sewing machine having the two-looper arrangement beneath the work which co-operates with the needle in concatinating theI thread to form stitches.

I claim.

l. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle operating from above the work, of two loopers and loop-spreading means situated beneath the work, a movable looper-actuating member beneath the work, means for giving said member a harmonic movement, and cam elements for translating said harmonic movement of the looperactuating member into an irregular motion of the loopers.

2. In a` sewing machine, the combination with a needle operating from above the work, of two independently-pivoted loopers and loop-spreading means situated beneath the work, a movable looper-actuating member beneath the work, means for giving said kmember a harmonic movement, and means for translating said harmonic movement of the looper-actuating member into an irregular motion of the loopers.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle operating above the work, of a turret situated beneath the work, two loopers and their loop spreaders carried by the turrent, a reciprocating looper-actuating member on the turret and cam elements for actuating the loopers from said member.

4.-. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle operating above the work, a turret situated beneath the work two independently-pivoted loopers and their spreaders carried by said turret, a reciprocating looper-actuating member mounted on the turret, and cam devices for actuating the loopers from said member.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle operating above the work, of

a turret situated beneath the work, two

loopers carried by the turret and mounted for movement independently of each other a looper spreader co-operating with each looper, a looliier-actuating member movably mounted on the turret, and cam elements for actuating the loopers from said looperactuator member.

G. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle operated from above the work, of a turret situated beneath the work, two loopers carried by the turret, a reciprocating looper-actuator member on the turret, cam devices for actuating said loopers from said looper-actuating member, a loop spreader associated with each looper, and means independent of the looper-actuating mechanism for operating the spreaders.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle operated from above the work, of a turret situated beneath the work, two independently-pivoted loopers and their spreaders mounted on the turret, one of said loopers having an extension provided with a cam surface, a lever pivoted to said turret for operating the other looper, said lever having a cam surface, and a looperactuating member mounted on the turret and engaging said cam surfaces.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle, of a drive shaft by which the needle is operated, a turret, two loopers and their spreaders mounted on the turret, an eccentric mounted on the drive shaft, means for operating both of said loopers from said eccentric, said means including cam elements on the turret.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a needle, of a drive shaft for operating the needle, a turret situated beneath the work, two independently-pivoted loopers and their spreaders mounted on the turret, a lever pivoted to the frame, an eccentric on said drive shaft for operating said lever, a looper-actuating member mounted on the turret, and operatively connected to said lever, and cam elements for translating the movement of said member into loop-taking movements of both of the loopers.

l0. In sewing machine, the combination with a needle, of a drive shaft for operating the same, a turret situated beneath the work two independently pivoted loopers and their spreaders mounted on the turret, a

' slee-ve situated and movable axially of the turret, an eccentric on said drive shaft by which the sleeve is given a harmonic movement, and cam devices for translating the harmonic movement of the sleeve into irregular loop-penetrating movements of the loopers.

loo

ll. In a sewing machine, the Combination with a needle operated from above the Work, of two ndependent-ly-pivoted loopers beneath the Work, a turret on which said loopers are mounted, a lever pivoted at one end to the turret and having its other end operatively connected to one of the loopers, Said lever having a cam surface intermediate of its ends, a looper actuator member mounted on the turret and engaging said cam 10 surface, means for giving the actuator a harmonie movement, and means to operate the other looper from said actuator.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my' name to this specification.

JOHN KIEVVICZ. 

